Drive head and ECM method and tool for making same

ABSTRACT

A drive head for a bolt, fastener, coupling, nut or other driveable head made from a less malleable metal such as a powder metal nickel alloy. The drive head has an upper drive portion having at least six convex corners spaced around the outer periphery thereof, each corner terminating in an edge. The drive head also has a lower flange portion adjacent to the drive portion and having an edge extending radially outwardly to at least the edge of each corner. The drive portion and the flange portion of the drive head is formed by subjecting a blank having a generally circular head to electrochemical machining (ECM). A tool is also provided for the ECM method to form the drive portion and flange portion of the drive head.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisionalpatent Application Ser. No. 60/332,944 filed Nov. 14, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a drive head, such as for abolt, coupling, nut or the like, particularly those made from metalsthat are less malleable at forging temperatures and thus require specialmethods in making to prevent cracking. The present invention furtherrelates to an electrochemical machining method, as well as a tool,useful in making such a drive head.

Fasteners such as bolts or nuts are typically provided with a drive headthat can be gripped by the tool, e.g., wrench, so that sufficient torquecan be generated to twist or rotate the fastener. The external surfaceof the drive head can have a number of different configurations. Sometypical configurations include square heads (i.e., having four points orcorners) and hexagonal heads (i.e., having six points or corners). See,for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,492,908 (Thurston), issued Feb. 3, 1970,which shows a bolt having a hexagonal head. Other configurations includethose having as many as twelve points or corners (sometimes referred toas a “double hexagonal” configuration) to provide the ability toincrease the amount of torque that can be imparted by the wrench. SeeU.S. Pat. No. 3,352,190 (Carlson), issued Nov. 14, 1967; and U.S. Pat.No. 3,354,757 (Grimm et al), issued Nov. 28, 1967. For fasteners such asbolts, the drive head is typically connected to an externally threadedshank. (For fasteners such as nuts, the drive head typically has aninternally threaded interior bore and no shank.)

The difficulty in fabricating drive heads for bolts becomes greater asthe number of points or corners increases in number. This isparticularly the case for bolts where the drive head has a doublehexagonal configuration. Relative to a hexagonal configuration, thedouble hexagonal configuration has a much smaller radius from point topoint. This makes it more difficult to provide a double hexagonalconfiguration in drive head having points or corners that aresufficiently well-defined and sharp so that the wrenching tool canengage the drive head without stripping the points or corners over time.

The difficulty in fabricating drive heads for bolts can also be affectedby the ductility (malleability) of the metal, especially at the forgingtemperature used to make the bolt. Forging temperatures are chosen to behigh enough to reduce the energy required for deformation and to reducethe propensity of the metal to crack, but low enough to precludeundesirable metallurgical changes in the metal. For metals havingrelatively high ductility over a large range of forging temperatures(i.e., are more malleable), the drive head can typically be formed byextrusion, forging or cold forming techniques. These fabrication methodsbasically form the desired configuration for the drive head by eitherdirectly deforming the metal, or by heating the metal either directly(or indirectly due to friction) and then deforming the metal. See, forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 3,352,190 (Carlson), issued Nov. 14, 1967. Seealso U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,464 (Tosa), issued Nov. 29, 1983 (nib tool forcold head forming of a bolt having a hexagonal head); and U.S. Pat. No.4,023,225 (Tochilkin et al), issued May 17, 1977 (cold shaping of bolthaving a hexagonal head). However, for bolts made from metals that needto be forged in a very narrow temperature range, such as powder metalalloys (e.g., nickel alloys containing significant levels of nickel(e.g., at least about 40%) and other metals such as cobalt andchromium), conventional deforming techniques typically used to makebolts have not been found to be suitable. Conventional bolt forging inparticular has been found to have a propensity to crack bolts made fromless malleable metals, especially when a double hexagonal configurationis formed in the drive head of the bolt.

Other methods that have been used to form drive heads on bolts areelectrical (electrode) heating techniques, such as by electricaldischarge machining (EDM). See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,738(Wolfe et al), issued Sep. 25, 1984, which discloses an apparatus forforming a polygonal head on the end of a tie rod using a pair ofreciprocating electrodes that define a die cavity having walls formingthe desired polygonal contour (e.g., hexagonal). Electrical (electrode)heating techniques either etch the surface by moving the electrode so asto melt off material to form the desired drive head configuration, or bygenerating enough heat from the electrode to melt and deform the drivehead within a die having the desired configuration. However, electrical(electrode) heating techniques such as EDM having been found to beunsuitable for forming drive heads from bolts made from less malleablemetals, especially those having a double hexagonal configuration. Inparticular, EDM has been found to undesirably create a large recastlayer on the shaped drive head, and can result in reduced materialstrength and fatigue life for the bolt.

Fabricating drive heads in bolts can be further complicated if it isdesired to have an integral flange in the bolt adjacent to the drivehead to provide an integral washer or to provide a washer-engaging face.See U.S. Pat. No. 3,492,908 (Thurston), issued Feb. 3, 1970, where bolt7 has a cylindrical flange 12 adjacent to drive head 11. See also U.S.Pat. No. 3,352,190 (Carlson), issued Nov. 14, 1967, where fastener 10has a thin integral washer 30 adjacent to drive head 12. This problem ofproviding such a flange is exacerbated in forming drive heads in boltsmade from lower ductility materials, especially if the drive head is tohave a double hexagonal configuration where the points or corners needto be well-defined and sharp.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a bolt, nut or otherdriveable article made from a less malleable metal that has well-definedand sharp points or corners, even when the drive head has a doublehexagonal configuration, and having a flange adjacent to the drive head.It would also be desirable to provide a method for making such a boltthat does not have propensity to crack the bolt, to create a recastlayer, to reduce material strength or fatigue life, or to impart otherundesired properties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a drive head for a bolt, nut, coupling,or other driveable article made from a less malleable metal or metalalloy such as powder metal nickel alloys comprising at least about 40%nickel. The drive head comprises:

-   -   (a) an upper drive portion having at least six convex corners        spaced around the outer periphery thereof, each corner        terminating in an edge; and    -   (b) a lower flange portion adjacent to the drive portion and        having an edge extending radially outwardly to at least the edge        of each corner;    -   (c) the drive portion and flange portion being formed by        electrochemical machining.

The present invention also relates to a method for forming the cornersin the drive portion of the drive head, as well as the flange portion.This method comprises the steps of:

-   -   (a) providing a blank made from a metal or metal alloy and        having a generally circular head; and    -   (b) subjecting the head to electrochemical machining to form the        drive portion and the flange portion of the drive head.

The present invention further relates to a tool useful in thiselectrochemical machining method for forming the corners in the driveportion of the drive head, as well as the flange portion. This toolcomprises:

-   -   (1) a shaping end having a cutting face;    -   (2) a chamber for the passage of electrolyte fluid that opens at        the cutting face;    -   (3) the cutting face having an inner portion adjacent to the        chamber, the inner portion of the cutting face having at least        six circumferentially spaced concave recesses; and    -   (4) each recess having a concave relief.

The drive portion of the drive head of the present invention can beprovided with sharp and well-defined edges at each corner to allow thedrive tool (e.g., wrench) to grip the drive portion and easily supplysufficient torque to twist or rotate the drive head. This can beachieved by using the electrochemical machining method and tool of thepresent invention, even when the drive portion of the drive head has adouble hexagonal configuration (i.e., twelve corners), as well as aflange portion adjacent to the drive portion. In particular, theelectrochemical machining method and tool of the present inventionavoids problems (e.g., cracking, creating recast layers and reducingmaterial strength or fatigue life) of prior forging and electricaldischarge machining (EDM) methods in forming the drive head of thepresent invention from less malleable, harder metals or metal alloys,such as powder metal nickel alloys comprising at least about 40% nickel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a bolt of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the bolt of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of a blank used in making thebolt of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the blank of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of the electrochemicalmachining (ECM) apparatus that is shown forming the drive head for thebolt of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a complete view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 that shows thedrive head for the bolt of the present invention being formed from ablank.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, the term “driveable article” refers to those articlesthat have a drive head and are generally twisted or rotated about alongitudinal axis by a tool (e.g., wrench) or other drive component.Driveable articles include fasteners such as bolts, or nuts, couplingssuch as curvic couplings, splines, gears, etc.

As used herein, the term “less malleable metal” refers to those metalsthat are difficult or impossible to shape or form by conventional boltforging techniques. These harder, less malleable metals and metal alloysinclude powder metal nickel alloys comprising at least about 40% nickel(e.g., from about 40 to about 75%), more typically at least about 45%nickel (e.g., from about 45 to about 60%). These powder metal nickelalloys can also comprise at least about 5% cobalt (e.g., from about 5 toabout 21%), more typically at least about 12% cobalt (e.g., from about12 to about 14%) and at least about 10% chromium (e.g., from about 10 toabout 22%), more typically at least about 15% chromium (e.g., from about15 to about 17%). See U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,567 (Krueger et al), issuedSep. 18, 1990 (herein incorporated by reference) which disclosesrepresentative powder nickel alloys suitable for use in the presentinvention. These powder nickel alloys can also include other metals suchas molybdenum (e.g., from about 3.5 to about 4.5%), tungsten (e.g., fromabout 3.5 to about 4.5%), aluminum (e.g., from about 1.5 to about 2.5%),titanium (e.g., from about 3.2 to about 4.2%), niobium (e.g., from about0.5 to about 1%), zirconium (e.g., from about 0.01 to about 0.06%),vanadium (e.g., up to about 0.01%), hafnium (e.g., up to about 0.3%) andyttrium (e.g., up to about 0.01%).

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the driveablearticle of the present invention in the form of a bolt generallyindicated as 10. In addition to bolts, driveable articles of the presentinvention can be in the form of a nut, coupling, spline, gear, etc.However, for purpose of illustrating the present invention, thedescription hereafter will be with reference to a bolt.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, bolt 10 comprises an upper drive headindicated generally as 14 and lower generally cylindrical shankgenerally indicated as 18. Shank 18 typically has a threaded exteriorsurface for securing it to a fastener such as a nut. Drive head 14comprises an upper drive portion indicated generally as 22 and a lowerflange portion adjacent to one end of shank 18. As shown particularly inFIG. 2, drive portion 22 has a plurality of generally V-shaped convexcorners 30 spaced around the outer periphery thereof. (In the case of aspline configuration, such as a spline gear, corners 30 would besquared-off instead of generally V-shaped.) As shown in FIG. 2, driveportion 22 has twelve such corners, i.e., is a double hexagonalconfiguration. However, the bolt of the present invention can have atleast six such corners, for example, six (i.e., hexagonalconfiguration), eight, ten or twelve corners, and typically has at leasttwelve corners. Each corner 30 has a first face 34 and second face 38.The intersection of faces 34 and 38 forms an outer edge 42 for eachcorner 30. Edge 42 is typically well-defined and sharp so that it iseasily gripped by the drive component (e.g., wrench).

As shown in FIG. 2, flange portion 26 can comprise an upper generallysloping section indicated as 46 and a lower generally circular sectionindicated as 50 adjacent to shank 18. Sections 46 and 50 intersect atgenerally circular edge 54. As shown in FIG. 1 and particularly FIG. 2,edge 54 extends radially outwardly to at least edges 42 of each corner30 and typically extends outwardly beyond edges 42.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodiment of a blank generally indicated as 110that can be used to form bolt 10. Blank 110 has a generally circularhead 114 from which drive head 14 is formed. Blank 110 also has acylindrical shaft 118 connected to head 114 from which shank 18 isformed.

Blank 110 and bolt 10 that is made from it can be made from a variety ofmetals or metal alloys including those comprising iron, nickel, cobalt,chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, aluminum, titanium, niobium, zirconium,vanadium, hafnium, and yttrium. Of particular interest to the presentinvention are blanks 110 and bolts 10 made from harder, less malleablemetals (and metal alloys) that are difficult to manipulate withconventional bolt forging techniques. These harder, less malleableinclude powder nickel alloys as previously defined.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of an electrochemical machining (ECM)apparatus indicated generally as 200 that is shown forming the drivehead 14 of bolt 10 from head 114 of blank 110. As shown in FIG. 5,apparatus 200 includes a block or holder 204 having cylindrical bore 208for receiving and securing shaft 118 of blank 110, with head 114 ofblank 110 extending above holder 204. Apparatus 200 also includes ashaping tool indicated generally as 210 that has a shaping end 214 and agenerally cylindrical bore or chamber indicated as 218 (for the passageof electrolyte fluid) that extends longitudinally through 210 tool andopens at a cutting face indicated as 222 of shaping end 214. Cuttingface 222 has an outer annular relatively planar portion indicated as 223and an inner sloped or tapered portion indicated as 225 that is adjacentto chamber 218 where it opens at cutting face 222. As shown in FIG. 5,chamber 218 is provided with insulation 226 that extends from justbehind or above cutting face 222 along the length of chamber 218.

In carrying out the ECM method of the present invention using apparatus200, a direct electrical current (DC) is applied between blank 110 (asthe work piece) which is positively charged (i.e., is the anode) andtool 210 which is negatively charged (i.e., is the cathode). Anelectrolyte fluid is used to conduct the current across the gap betweentool 210 (the cathode) and blank 110 (the anode). Suitable electrolytefluids include aqueous electrolyte fluids where an electrolyte salt,such as sodium chloride, sodium bromide, sodium iodide, sodium chlorate,sodium perchlorate, sodium sulfate, sodium nitrate, and mixturesthereof, is dissolved in water, typically in a concentration of fromabout 0.5 to about 3 lb./gallon (from about 60 to about 360 g./l). Forexample, a suitable electrolyte fluid can be prepared by dissolvingabout 1.1 lb. of sodium chloride per gallon of water (about 132 g./l.).

As shown in FIG. 5, tool 210 advances in the direction indicated byarrow 228 (the cutting direction) towards head 114 of blank 110. As thecutting face 222 of tool 210 is brought closer to head 114 of blank 110,the electrolyte is pumped from a source (not shown) at a controlled rate(for example, in the range of from about 100 to about 200 ft./sec. orfrom about 30.5 to about 61 m./sec.) into chamber 218 and then passes orflows out through the gap between cutting face 222 and head 114. Anelectrical potential (e.g., from about 12 to about 18 volts) is appliedacross the electrolyte with the current flowing from the head 114 ofblank 110 (the anode) to cutting face 222 of tool 210 (the cathode). Asa result of the current being applied across the electrolyte, the metalmolecules of head 114 and water molecules from the electrolyte breakdownand form a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas.

The rate of breakdown or dissolution is proportional to the rate ofcurrent flow (i.e., amperage), as shown by Ohm's law (I=VR), where I isthe current, V is the voltage and R is the resistance. Accordingly,higher voltages (i.e., by increasing the current flow), while keepingthe resistance constant, will increase the rate of breakdown ordissolution. (A similar effect can be achieved by lowering theresistance.) The smaller the gap maintained between cutting face 222 oftool 210 and head 114 of blank 110, the lower will be the resistance,thus leading to a higher rate of current flow; the higher the rate ofcurrent flow, the greater will be the rate of dissolution and removal ofmetal from head 114. Typically, the gap between planar portion 223 ofthe cutting face 222 and the top of head 114 (or the sloping section 46of flange 26 as drive bead 14 is formed) is in the range of from about0.005 to about 0.015 in. (from about 0.1 to about 0.4 mm.) and iscommonly referred to in the art as the “frontal” gap. Typically, the gapbetween inner portion 225 of cutting face 222 and faces 34/38 of eachcorner 30 of drive head 14 is in the range of from about 0.02 to about0.05 in. (from about 0.5 to about 1.3 mm.) and is commonly referred toin the art as the “side” gap.

To keep the “frontal” and “side” gaps relatively small so as to maintaina maximum rate of metal removal, cutting face 222 of tool 210 is movedor advanced in the direction indicated by arrow 228 at a rate equivalent(or substantially equivalent) to the rate that metal is dissolved andremoved from head 114 of blank 110. Typically the cutting face 222 isadvanced in the direction indicated by arrow 228 at a rate in the rangeof from about 0.01 to about 0.4 in./min (from about 0.2 to about 10.2mm./min.), and more typically in the range of from about 0.04 to about0.2 in./min (from about 1 to about 5.1 mm./min.). The drive head 14 willbegin to take shape since those areas closer to the cathode cutting face222 dissolve quicker than areas further away from face 222. Tool 210 isalso undercut and insulated in areas where the side of drive head 14requires walls parallel to the centerline of bolt shank 18. Inparticular, insulation 226 attached or adhered to the surface of chamber218 behind or above cutting face 222 minimizes current flow from theremainder of chamber 218 so that further metal dissolution or removalfrom those portions of drive head 14 that have been shaped by cuttingface 222 is minimized.

As cutting face 222 moves concentrically along the exterior length ofhead 114 in the direction indicated by arrow 228 (i.e., towards shaft118), and as metal is dissolved and removed from head 114, drive head 14will take on the desired shape. After the cutting face 222 advances thedistance indicated by outline 230 of the shaping end 214, the driveportion 22 and flange portion 26 will be formed in drive head 14. Theparticular distance cutting face 222 advances is determined by thedesign requirements for drive head 14. The particular shape of the driveportion 22 of drive head 14 will be determined by the shape orconfiguration of cutting face 222, and in particular the inner portion225. For example, the shape or configuration for forming a twelve pointbolt 10 (i.e., a twelve corner drive portion 22) is shown in FIG. 6.Referring to FIG. 6, cutting face 222 comprises a plurality of generallyV-shaped concave recesses indicated generally as 232 that are formed inand circumferentially spaced around the inner portion 225 of cuttingface 222 such that recesses 232 are also adjacent to chamber 218. Asshown in FIG. 6, in order to form a twelve point bolt, there are twelvesuch recesses 232 formed in inner portion 225 of cutting face 222. Asalso shown in FIG. 6, each recess 232 is opposite to and iscomplementary of a respective corner 30 of drive head 14 that is formedby the inner portion 225 of cutting face 222. Each recess 232 has afirst segment 234 and a second segment 238 that are oppositecorresponding first and second faces 34 and 38 of the respective corner30 that is formed.

A concave relief in the form of a generally semicircular groove or notchindicated as 242 is formed in each recess 232 and connects first andsecond segments 234 and 238. (Depending on the geometry of corner 30,relief 242 can be in the form of other concave shapes or configurationsbesides semicircular, so long as a laminar flow of the electrolyte isprovided at corner 30.) Each relief 240 is opposite and is complementaryto an edge 42 of the respective corner 30 of drive head 14. As shown inFIG. 6, there is a “side” gap indicated generally as 246 between thefaces 34/38 of each complementary corner 30 and segments 234/238 of eachrecess 232. As also shown in FIG. 6, there is also a gap indicatedgenerally as 250 between each complementary edge 42 of the respectivecorner 30 and the relief 242 of the respective recess 232.

In the absence of the relief 242, each corner 30 of drive portion 22would not form a sharp edge 42 but would instead form a much morerounded edge. This is due to current flowing from head 114/drive head 14across the electrolyte passing through “side” gap 246 to more than oneof segments 234 and 238 of recess 232 of tool 210. By providing relief242 in each recess 232, the current is less likely to flow to more thanone of segments 234 and 238 (i.e., because of the increased width of gap250), thus allowing for a relatively sharp edge 42 to be formed at eachrespective corner point 30. The size of relief 242 also needs to berelatively small. If relief 242 is too large, an undesired protrusioncan form on each of the respective corners 30.

In the absence of relief 242, current will flow from corner 42 of thedrive head 14 to both segments 238 and 234 of each recess 232 of tool210, causing more material to be dissolved and removed from the corner42 than from faces 34 and 38. This would result in a rounded corner 42,rather than a sharp, well-defined corner 42. Without a sharp,well-defined corner 42, it is usually significantly more difficult toapply proper torque to drive head 14 with a driveable tool (e.g.,installation wrenches). The addition of semicircular relief 242 to eachof the respective recesses 232 allows a sharp, more well defined corner42 to be obtained by tool 210 during the ECM method for drive head 14,while still being able to generate section 46 of flange portion 26.

While specific embodiments of the method of the present invention havebeen described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatvarious modifications thereto can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

1. A drive head made from a powder metal nickel alloy comprising atleast about 40% nickel, the drive head comprising: (a) an upper driveportion having at least twelve convex corners spaced around the outerperiphery thereof, each corner terminating in an edge; and (b) a lowerflange portion adjacent to the drive portion and having an edgeextending radially outwardly to at least the edge of each corner of thedrive portion; (c) the drive portion and flange portion being formed byelectrochemical machining.
 2. The drive head of claim 1 wherein thenickel alloy comprises from about 40 to about 75% nickel.
 3. The drivehead of claim 2 wherein the nickel alloy comprises from about 45 toabout 60% nickel.
 4. The drive head of claim 2 wherein the nickel alloyfurther comprises from about 5 to about 21% cobalt and from about 10 toabout 22% chromium.
 5. The drive head of claim 4 wherein the nickelalloy comprises from about 12 to about 14% cobalt and from about 15 toabout 17% chromium.
 6. The drive head of claim 1 wherein each corner isgenerally V-shaped.
 7. The drive head of claim 6 wherein the flangeportion comprises an upper generally sloping section and a lowergenerally circular section that intersect at the edge of the flangeportion.
 8. The drive head of claim 7 wherein the edge of the flangeportion extends beyond the edge of each corner.
 9. A bolt made from apowder metal nickel alloy comprising at least about 40% nickel, the boltcomprising: (1) a drive head having: (a) an upper drive portion havingat least twelve generally V-shaped convex corners spaced around theouter periphery thereof, each corner terminating in an edge; and (b) alower flange portion adjacent to the drive portion and having an edgeextending radially outwardly to at least the edge of each corner; (c)the drive portion and flange portion being formed by electrochemicalmachining; and (2) a shank having one end adjacent to the flangeportion.
 10. The bolt of claim 9 wherein the shank has a threadedexterior surface.
 11. The bolt of claim 9 wherein the nickel alloycomprises from about 45 to about 60% nickel, from about 5 to about 21%cobalt and from about 10 to about 22% chromium.
 12. The bolt of claim 9wherein the flange portion comprises an upper generally sloping sectionand a lower generally circular section that intersect at the edge of theflange portion.
 13. The bolt of claim 12 wherein the edge of the flangeportion extends beyond the edge of each corner.
 14. A tool for forming adrive head from a metal or metal alloy by electrochemical machining, thedrive head having an upper drive portion having at least six convexcorners spaced along the outer periphery thereof, each cornerterminating in an edge, and a lower flange portion adjacent to the driveportion and having an edge extending radially outwardly to at least theedge of each corner, the tool comprising: (1) a shaping end having acutting face; (2) a chamber for the passage of electrolyte fluid thatopens at the cutting face; (3) the cutting face having an inner portionadjacent to the chamber, the inner portion of the cutting face having atleast six circumferentially spaced concave recesses; and (4) each recesshaving a concave relief.
 15. (canceled)
 16. The tool of claim 14 whereinthe concave relief has a generally semicircular shape.
 17. The tool ofclaim 14 wherein the inner portion of the cutting face has twelvecircumferentially spaced recesses.
 18. The tool of claim 17 wherein theinner portion of the cutting face is tapered.
 19. A method for forming adrive head from a metal or metal alloy, the drive head having an upperdrive portion having at least six convex corners spaced along the outerperiphery thereof, each corner terminating in an edge, and a lowerflange portion adjacent to the drive portion and having an edgeextending radially outwardly to at least the edge of each corner, themethod comprising the steps of: (a) providing a blank made from a metalor metal alloy and having a circular head; and (b) subjecting the headto electrochemical machining to form the drive portion and the flangeportion of the drive head.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the metalor metal alloy is a powder metal nickel alloy comprising at least about40% nickel, at least about 5% cobalt and at least about 10% chromium.21. The method of claim 20 wherein the blank is a bolt blank thatfurther comprises a cylindrical shaft connected to the head. 22-29.(canceled)
 30. A method for forming a drive head in a bolt blank, thedrive head having an upper drive portion having at least six generallyV-shaped convex corners spaced along the outer periphery thereof, eachcorner terminating in an edge, and a lower flange portion adjacent tothe drive portion and having an edge extending radially outwardly to atleast the edge of each corner, the method comprising the steps of: (a)providing a bolt blank made from a powder metal nickel alloy comprisingat least about 40% nickel, the bolt blank comprising a circular head anda cylindrical shaft; (b) providing a shaping tool comprising: (1) ashaping end with a cutting face; (2) a chamber for the passage ofelectrolyte fluid that opens at the cutting face; (3) the cutting facehaving an inner portion adjacent to the chamber, the inner portionhaving at least six circumferentially spaced generally V-shaped concaverecesses, each recess having a first segment and a second segment; and(4) a semicircular relief connecting the first and second segments; and(c) moving the cutting face concentrically along the exterior length ofthe head while applying an electrical current to the bolt blank and theshaping tool and passing an electrolyte fluid through the chamber toconduct current across the gap between the cutting face and the headuntil the drive portion and flange portion of the drive head are formed.31. The method of claim 30 wherein an electrical potential of from about12 to about 18 volts is applied across the electrolyte fluid. 32-34.(canceled)
 35. The method of claim 30 wherein the inner portion of thecutting face has twelve circumferentially spaced recesses and whereintwelve corners are formed in the drive portion of the drive head.